List of steam fairs
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A steam fair or (steam rally) is a regular organised gathering of historic steam-powered vehicles and machinery, open to the public. Typical exhibits include:
traction engine A traction engine is a steam engine, steam-powered tractor used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location. The name derives from the Latin ''tractus'', meaning 'drawn', since the prime function of any t ...
s,
steam roller A steamroller (or steam roller) is a form of road roller – a type of heavy construction machinery used for leveling surfaces, such as roads or airfields – that is powered by a steam engine. The leveling/flattening action is achieved through ...
s,
steam wagon A steam wagon (or steam lorry, steam waggon or steamtruck) is a steam-powered truck for carrying freight. It was the earliest form of lorry (truck) and came in two basic forms: ''overtype'' and ''undertype'', the distinction being the position ...
s, and
steam car A steam car is a car (automobile) propelled by a steam engine. A steam engine is an external combustion engine (ECE) in which the fuel is combusted outside of the engine, unlike an internal combustion engine (ICE) in which fuel is combusted ins ...
s. Often, the scope is widened to include other historic exhibits such as
stationary engine A stationary engine is an engine whose framework does not move. They are used to drive immobile equipment, such as pumps, generators, mills or factory machinery, or cable cars. The term usually refers to large immobile reciprocating engines, ...
s, internal-combustion -powered road transport, agricultural and construction vehicles, working horses, woodcraft and the like. A typical steam fair consists of: * A parade ring or track in which vehicles may be demonstrated * Trade and craft stalls related to the exhibits * Areas where vehicles may be examined more closely and the public may talk to owners and operators * Entertainment areas (often, a beer tent) with food, drink, and evening music * A fairground area may also be included in the event The following is a geographic list of these gatherings, some of which are referred to as ''rallies'' or as ''festivals''. The list does not include static steam museums unless they host a particular event that falls into the classification. In addition there are some travelling shows powered by steam. Where these are referred to as ''steam fairs'' they are included in the list.


Australia

* Scoresby Steamfest * Lake Goldsmith steam rally (Twice yearly) *
Hunter Valley Steamfest The Hunter Valley Steamfest is one of the major events in the New South Wales steam locomotive season and also one of the major events held in Maitland, in the Hunter Region. Held over two days in April, it is usually attended by steam locomot ...
*Steam Rally Echuca Moama *SteamFest Tasmania at Sheffield


Canada

* Steam-Era - ''(
Milton, Ontario Milton ( 2016 census population 110,128) is a town in Southern Ontario, Canada, and part of the Halton Region in the Greater Toronto Area. Between 2001 and 2011, Milton was the fastest growing municipality in Canada, with a 71.4% increase in popu ...
)'' * Threshermen's Reunion – ''(
Austin, Manitoba Austin is an unincorporated community recognized as a local urban district in western Manitoba on the Trans-Canada Highway about west of Winnipeg. It is part of the Municipality of North Norfolk. It sits at the western edge of the table-flat Portag ...
)'' *
Georgian Bay Steam Show Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group **Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians ** Georgian scripts, three scri ...
_ ''(
Cookstown, Ontario Innisfil is a town in Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe in Simcoe County, immediately south of Barrie and north of Toronto. It has historically been a rural area, but due to being geographically sandwiched in between ...
)''


Ireland

* Eyrecourt * Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally – ''(1998- )'' * Stradbally - Irish National Steam Rally – ''(1965- )'' * Upton Steam Rally – ''( -1997)''


Netherlands

* Dordt in Stoom, Dordrecht - ''(1985- )'' bi-annual large event in and around the historic harbour district with steam powered ships, trains, river boats and other engines.


Poland

*
Wolsztyn Wolsztyn (german: Wollstein) is a town in western Poland, on the western edge of Greater Poland Voivodeship. It is the seat of Wolsztyn County, and of the smaller administrative district of Gmina Wolsztyn. Geography The town is situated within ...
– ''(1993- )'' annual steam locomotive parade held the last weekend of April near a historic roundhouse *
Chabówka Chabówka is a village located on the outskirts of the southern Polish town of Rabka, in the Nowy Targ County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship. With population of 1,600 (as for 2006), Chabówka is a popular tourist attraction because of its location ...
– ''(2005- )'' "Parowozjada" - steam locomotive parade held the last weekend of August in a railway museum near the railway station


United Kingdom


Static events


Travelling shows

*
Carter's Steam Fair Carters Steam Fair (no apostrophe is used in the name) was a travelling vintage fair. Founded in 1977 by John Carter (1942–2000), this family business is now managed by the second generation of Carters. Carters operated and maintained a large ...
– ''(1976- )'' A
travelling funfair A traveling carnival (US English), usually simply called a carnival, or travelling funfair (UK English), is an amusement show that may be made up of amusement rides, food vendors, merchandise vendors, games of chance and skill, thrill acts, ...
that travels throughout
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
and the home counties from
Easter Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samue ...
to
Bonfire Night Bonfire Night is a name given to various annual celebrations characterised by bonfires and fireworks. The event celebrates different traditions on different dates, depending on the country. Some of the most popular instances include Guy Fawkes ...
.


United States

* Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum - bi-annual show in Vista, California *
Antique Powerland Powerland Heritage Park, formerly known as Antique Powerland, is a collection of museums and a self-described heritage site for power equipment, such as farm machinery, commercial trucks, trains, construction equipment, and the engines which power ...
, Brooks Oregon. Annual Steam-Up *
Antique Power and Steam Show An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...
- Large annual show taking place in the Lake County Fairgrounds in Indiana.
Badger Steam and Gas Show
- Annual show hosted by Badger Steam and Gas Engine Club near Baraboo, WI * The Buckley Old Engine Show in Buckley Michigan *K&O Steam and Gas Engine Show, Windfield Kansas. * Central North Dakota Steam Thresher's Reunion – ''(1958- )'' *The Dover Steam Show – ''(1964- )'' Annual show hosted by Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association * Great Steamboat Race - ''(1963- )'' annual round trip race from Louisville, Kentucky to Jeffersonville, Indiana and back between steamboats on the Ohio River *
Old Thresher's Reunion The Midwest Old Threshers Reunion is an annual event that takes place in the small town of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, United States, and runs for five days, ending on the Labor Day weekend. It was first held in 1950, and has taken place every year exce ...
- ''(1960- )'' Labor Day weekend,
Mount Pleasant, Iowa Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa. The population was 9,274 in the 2020 census, an increase from 8,668 in the 2010 census. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders. History The first permanent s ...
. *
National Threshers Association {{Unreferenced, date=March 2010 The National Threshers Association (NTA) is a non-profit group of enthusiasts who are interested in steam-powered traction engines - also known as "steam tractors", "steam traction engines" or simply "steam engines" ...
''(1944- )'' annual reunion/show held in Wauseon, Ohio, last full weekend of June
Northwest Ohio Antique Machinery Association Antique Machinery Show
- Findlay, OH
Nowthen Threshing Show
- Annual show held on the third full weekend (Friday-Sunday) in August, in
Nowthen, Minnesota Nowthen is a city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 4,536 at the 2020 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Nowthen is locat ...
. *
Pageant of Steam Pageant of Steam is an annual steam fair held on Gehan Road in Canandaigua, New York ( Town of Hopewell). It started in 1960 and is hosted by the New York Steam Engine Association. The pageant is held the second full weekend of August, starting o ...
- ''(1960- )'' annual fair held in
Canandaigua, New York Canandaigua (; ''Utaʼnaráhkhwaʼ'' in Tuscarora) is a city in Ontario County, New York, United States. Its population was 10,545 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Ontario County; some administrative offices are at the county complex ...

Pawnee Steam and Gas Engine Show
- held first full weekend in May in Pawnee, OK * Pioneer Engineers Club of Rushville, IN - yearly show in Rushville, IN
Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society
- Sagertown, PA. * Rock River Thresheree
Edgerton, Wisconsin Edgerton is a city in Rock County and partly in Dane County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 5,945 at the 2020 census. Of this, 5,799 were in Rock County, and 146 were in Dane County. Known locally as "Tobacco City U.S.A.," bec ...
– ''(1955- )'' * Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association Kinzers, Pennsylvania * Shenandoah Valley Steam & Gas Engine Association, Berryville, VA "Pageant of Steam" held each year the last full weekend in July * Soule’ Live Steam Festival and Railfest annual event held the first weekend in November in Meridian, MS. * Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion annual event held July 1-July 5 in Denton, NC * Steamstock: An Antiquarian Exposition in Point Richmond, CA is an annual event held in July in a former Ford motor factory, next to the Rosie the Riveter Museum. *
Tall Stacks Tall Stacks, formally known as the Tall Stacks Music, Arts, and Heritage Festival, was a festival held every three or four years in the Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, area, which celebrated the city's heritage of the riverboat. The sixth (and, to date, ...
- held every 3 or 4 years in Cincinnati, Ohio since 1988; is a fair for steam powered riverboats.
Tuckahoe Steam & Gas Association near Easton, MD
- annual "Steam Show" ''(1973- )'' in early July. * Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion (WMSTR) Rollag, Minnesota
Western New York Gas & Steam Engine Association Annual Rally
- Alexander, NY * Cama Powerup Spring and Fall Kent, CT * Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association Back to the Farm Reunion Boonevill, MO * Riverbend Steam and Gas Association Allendale, MI Riverbend Steam and Gas Association
/ref> *The Michigan Steam Engine and Threshers Club Reunion, Mason, MI.


See also

*
Live steam Live steam is steam under pressure, obtained by heating water in a boiler. The steam is used to operate stationary or moving equipment. A live steam machine or device is one powered by steam, but the term is usually reserved for those that ar ...
*
Hollycombe Steam Collection The Hollycombe Steam Collection is a collection of steam-powered vehicles, amusement rides, and attractions in South East England. It is based in West Sussex, but the closest town is Liphook in Hampshire. The collection includes fairground rid ...
– ''essentially a steam fair, but in the form of a museum'' *
Thursford Collection The Thursford Collection is a museum located in Thursford, Norfolk. Founded by local man George Cushing, it is now known for the scale of its collection of steam engines, organs and fairground attractions, and its annual Christmas spectacular ...
– ''steam museum featuring traction engines''


Notes

{{reflist, 30em


External links


List of UK Steam FairsUK Traction engine ralliesLive listings of UK Steam and Vintage Events
(Visitors may also submit to this Events Guide)
"Old Glory" Online Guide to UK Events
including steam rallies and fairs (dynamic list)
from the Old Glory magazine
::''(Old Glory also publishes a 'Free' paper version at the start of each year listing UK Events.)''
Search for steam fairs near you (UK only)
Steam Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporizatio ...
Steam Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporizatio ...